Pakistan Pushes for Direct US-Iran Talks in Islamabad

Pakistan escalated diplomatic efforts on March 27, pushing for direct face-to-face US-Iran talks in Islamabad 'as early as Friday.' Pakistani PM Sharif's government is acting as the primary conduit for US-Iran indirect communication, having transmitted Trump's 15-point peace plan to Tehran. Iran's counter-proposal — demanding halt to all aggression, war reparations, recognition of Iranian sovereignty over Hormuz, and end to attacks on Hezbollah — remains far outside what Washington will accept. The ACLED assessment noted Iran is 'more likely to continue fighting than concede,' as the maximum Iran might offer falls short of the US minimum. Turkey is passing messages between both sides; Egypt has offered to host multilateral UN-backed talks.